Lifting mechanism



Dec.' 17, 1957 J. F. BAKER Y 2,816,675

LIFTING MECHANISM Filed June 8, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet l J. F. BAKER2,816,675

LIFTING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Dec. 17, 1957A Filed June 8,1956l ATTOREYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 17, 1957 .1. F. BAKER v LIFTINGMECHANISM Filed June 8, 1956 um hm mw mm INV ENT OR ATTORNEY 5 ,lfm www!m i. nlullnn. IIIIIT Dec. 17, 1957 J. F. BAKER LIFTING- MECHANISM 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 8, 1956 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent LIFTING MECHANISM Jess F. Baker, Peoria, Ill.

Application June 8, 1956, Serial No. 590,260

3 Claims. (Cl. 214-390) The present invention relates to liftingmechanisms, and more particularly, to such mechanisms which are adaptedto lift an object and to serve as a carriage for the movement of theobject from place to place.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a lifting mechanismfor lifting and transporting relatively heavy objects which when not inuse can be collapsed into a relatively small area for storage purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lifting and transportingmechanism of the class described which consists of a pair of flexiblyconnected units having the facility of encompassing loads varyinggreatly 1n size.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lifting andtransporting mechanism of the class described above which is inexpensiveto manufacture, simple to attach and use, and positive in its action.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the invention shown partly broken away,illustrating the side opposite to that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line 3--3 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-section taken alongthe line 4 4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the invention shown partly broken awayand in section for purposes of clarity and with the lowered positionshown in dotted lines.

Figure 6 4is a side elevation of the invention shown partly broken awayand in section for purposes of clarity.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the invention showing the side oppositeto Figure 6, also partly broken away and partly in section for purposesof clarity.

Figure 8 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line 8 8 ofFigure 5, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross-section, on an enlarged scale, of afragmentary portion of the invention taken along the line 9-9 of Figure6, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 10 is a perspective View of one of the lifting forks.

Figure 11 is a detailed fragmentary side elevation of one of thecasterwheel mountings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several figures, the referencenumeral 110 indicates generally a lifting mechanism constructed inaccordance with the invention and includes a winch unit generallyindicated at 111, and a trailing unit generally indicated at 112.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that thewinch unit 111 comprises a pair of upright tubillar members 113 and 114which are integrally joined 2,816,515 Patented Dec. 17, 1957 ice by ahorizontal tubular member 114 extending between their top ends. Thetubular uprights 113 and 114 extend parallel to each other in spacedapart relation and are provided at their lower ends, respectively, witha pair of caster brackets 116 and 117. Caster bearings 118 and 119 aresecured to the caster brackets 116 and 117, respectively, and pivotallycarry a pair of caster forks 120 and 121, respectively, having casterwheels 122 and 123 journalled therein.

A pair of L-shaped forks 124 and 125 extend inwardly from the tubularmembers 113 and 114, respectively, and are provided with uprightmounting plates 126 and 127 which are welded thereto and extend inparallel relation to a position adjacent the upright tubular members 113and 114. A pair of tubular guide members 12S and 129 are secured to themounting plates 126 and 127 along a side edge thereof opposite the forks124 and 125 by means of welding or the like, as indicated at 130, andare telescopically mounted on the tubular upright members 113 and 114for reciprocation thereon. A plate 131 is secured to the horizontalportions of the forks 124 and and extends therebetween. The plate 131has a rearwardly oset portion 132 having a medial slot 133 formedtherein.

A pair of upstanding ears 134 and 135 are positioned on opposite sidesof the slot 133 supporting a shaft 136 therebetween. A pulley 137 isjournalled on the shaft 136 between the ears 134 and 135 in a positionso that the pulley 137 extends below the plate 131 and rearwardly ot'the offset portion 132.

A stiat't 13a has its opposite ends journalled in the opposite sides ofa U-shaped mounting bracket 139 which is secured to the tubular framemember 114 by means of U-bolts 14d. A pair of laterally extending ears141 and 142. are positioned in parallel relation and project inwardlyfrom one oi the sides of the U-shaped bracket 139. A winch drum issecured to the shaft 13b for rotation therewith. A gear 146 is securedto the shaft 136 adjacent one end ot the winch drum 145. lhe gear 146 iskeyed to the shaft 133 for rotation therewith.

A shatt 14s 1s journalled in the ears 141 and 142 and carries a wormgear 151 which is keyed thereto and positioned between the ears 141 and142. The shaft 148 is provided with a square shank 150 to receive a handcrank (not shown). 'lhe worm gear 151 is meshed with the gear 14o sotnat upon rotation of the shaft 148 the worm gear 151 will rotate thegear 146 turning the shaft 136 and rotating the winch drum 145. A cable152. is wound on the winch drum 145 and extends downwardly under mepulley 13 i.

A trailer unit 112 is provided with an upright frame- Work identical tothe winch unit 111 and including a pair of upstanding spaced apartparallel tubular members 153 and 1:4 joined at their upper terminal endsby an integrally tubular member 155.

Caster brackets 159 and 160 are secured to the lower terminal ends ofthe tubular members 153 and 154, respectively, and carry at their lowerends caster bearings 161 and 162, respectively.

Caster forks 163 and 164 are mounted for swivel action on the bearings161 and 162 and are provided with caster Wheels 16S, 166 which arejournalled therein. A pair of lifting forks 167 and 16S having agenerally L-shape are positioned inwardly of the upright tubular members153 and 154 and have secured thereto in upwardly and outwardly extendingposition support bracket plates 169 and 170 which extend in parallelrelation to a point adjacent the upright tubular members 153 and 154,respectively.

Tubular guide members 171 and 172 are telescopi-` bracket plates 169 and170 by means of welding as is indicated at 173, or the like. A supportplate 174 is secured to the horizontal portions of the lift forks 167and 168 and is provided with a rearwardly offset portion 175 carrying amedially positioned inwardly extending slot 176. A pair of upstandingears 177, 178 are secured to the plate 174 along opposite side edges ofthe slot 176.

A shaft 179 is secured to and extends between the ears 177 and 178. Apulley 180 is journalled on the shaft 179 and extends below andoutwardly of the plate 174. A pulley 180 is positioned adjacent the ear178 in spaced apart relation to the ear 177 leaving a portion 181 of theshaft 179 exposed, for reasons to be assigned.

A U-shaped yoke 182 is engaged over the tubular frame member 155 anddepends therefrom. A pulley fork 183 is pivotally mounted in the yoke182 and carries a shaft 184 adjacent its lower end. A pulley 185 isjournalled n the` shaft 184 and is adapted to have a cable 152 trainedthereover. The cable 152 extends from the pulley 137 under the pulley180 and over the pulley 185 and is provided with a hook 186 at itsterminal end which engages the portion 181 of the shaft 179, asillustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

In the use and operation of the preferred form of the invention, thecable 152 is disconnected from the trailer unit 112 and the winch unit113 is positioned so that the plate 131 extends under an object 188 tobe lifted and supported. The forks 124 and 125 are brought intoengagement with one side of the object 188 with the cable 152 extendedunder the object 188. The trailer unit 112 is positioned with itssupport plate 174 under the opposite side of the object 188 and with itsforks 167, 168 in engagement with the side -of the object 188. The cable152 is then trained under the pulley 180, around the pulley 185, anddownwardly with the hook 186 engaged about the portion 181 of the shaft179. The drum 145 is then rotated, winding the cable 152 thereon.

The initial movement of the cable 152 onto the drum 145 causes the forks124, 125, 167 and 168 to grip the sides of the object 188 tightly.Further winding of the cable 152 on the drum 145 will cause the supportplates 131 and 174 to move upwardly with the units 111 and 112 so thatthe object 188 is lifted clear of the supporting surface and is carriedby the caster wheels 122, 123, 165 and 166 permitting the object 188 tobe transported as desired.

To unload the object 188 from the lifting mechanism 110, the procedurenoted above is reversed, thus disconnecting the units 111 and 112 fromthe object 188.

Referring now to the modification illustrated in Figures h 5 through ll,the reference numeral 18 indicates generally a modified liftingmechanism constructed in ac# cordance with the invention which consistsof a winch unit, generally indicated at 11, and a trailing unit,generally indicated at 12.

Referring particularly now to Figures 5, 6, and 8, it will be seen thatthe winch unit 11 comprises a pair of upright channel members 13 and 14which open inwardly and are connected at their tops by means of achannel frame member 14. The channel uprights 13 and 14 extend parallelto each other in spaced apart relation and are connected at their bottomends by means of a crossbary 15. A pair of caster brackets 16 and 17 aresecured to the outer lower portions of the channels 13 and 14,respectively, and have secured to the bottom ends thereof casterbearings 18 and 19, respectively. Caster forks 20 and 21 are pivotallysecured to the bearings 18 and 19, respectively, and have caster wheels22 and 23 journalled therein.

A pair of L-shaped forks 24 and 25 extend inwardly from the channelmembers 13 and 14, respectively, and are provided with upright mountingplates 26 and 27 which are welded thereto and extend in parallelrelation toa position lying vbetween the channels 13 and 14. A pair oflguide bars 28 and 29 are 'secured to the `ends vof 4 the mountingplates 26 and 27 opposite the forks 24 and 25 by means of bolts 30. Aplate 31 is secured to the horizontal portions of the forks 24 and 25and extends therebetween. The plate 31 has a rearwardly extending offsetportion 32 having a medial slot 33 formed therein.

A pair of upstanding ears 34 and 35 are positioned on opposite sides ofthe slot 33 supporting a shaft 36 extending therebetween. A pulley 37 isjournalled on the shaft 36 between the ears 34' and 35 in a position sothat the pulley extends below the plate 31 and rearwardly of the offsetportion 32. A shaft 38 extends between the channel members 13 and 14adjacent the channel member 14.

Hanger bolts 39 and 40 project upwardly through the channel 14 and aresecured thereto by means of nuts 41 and 42, respectively. Swivel shaftbearings 43 and 44 are carried by the lower ends of the support bolts 39and 40 with the shaft 38 being journalled for support therein. A winchdrum 45 is secured to the central portion of the shaft 38 for rotationtherewith. A gear 46 is secured to the shaft 38 adjacent one end thereofand is adapted to rotate with the shaft 38.

An inverted U-shaped bracket 47 is secured to the channel 14 and extendsdownwardly on opposite sides thereof to support a shaft 48 journalledtherein. A thrust bearing 49 is carried by the shaft 48 and engagesagainst the bracket 47. A hand crank 50 is secured to the shaft 48 byany suitable means, and a worm gear 51 is mounted on the shaft 48between the opposite sides of the bracket 47 in engagement with the gear46 on the shaft 38. Rotation of the shaft 48 by the handle 50 will causethe worm gear 51 to rotate which in turn will rotate the gear 46 and theshaft 38 rotating the winch drum 45.

A cable 52 is wound on the winch drum 45 and extends under the pulley37.

The trailer unit 12 is provided with an upright framework identical tothe winch unit 11 consisting of a pair of upstanding spaced parallelchannel members 53 and 54 joined at their upper edges by a channelmember 55 and at their lower edges by a connector bar 56. Braces 57 and58 extend across the upper corners of the unit 12 and are welded attheir opposite ends to the channels 53,y 54 and 55, respectively.

Caster brackets 59 and 60 are secured to the outer faces of the lowerportions of the channels 53 and 54, respectively, and carry at theirlower ends bearings 61 and 62, respectively. Caster forks 63 and 64 aremounted for rotation on the bearings 61 and 62 and have caster wheels 65and 66 journalled therein respectively. A pair of lifting forks 67 and68 are positioned inwardly of the channels 53 and 54 and have securedthereto in upwardly and outwardly extending position support bracketplates 69 and 70. The plates 69 and 70 extend in parallel relationbetween the channels 53 and 54.

Guide blocks 71 and 72 are positioned for reciprocation within thechannels 53 and 54, respectively, and are secured to the outer ends ofthe support brackets 69 and 70 by means of bolts 73. A support plate 74is secured to the horizontal portions of the lift forks 67 and 68 and isprovided with a rearwardly extending offset portion 75, as bestillustrated in Figure 8. An inwardly extending slot 76 is formed in thecentral portion of the offset and has a pair of upstanding ears 77 and78 positioned adjacent opposite edges thereof.

A shaft 79 is secured in and extends between the ears 77 and 78. Apulley 80 is journalled on the shaft 79 and extends below and outwardlyof the plate 74. A coupling pin 81 is secured to and extends between theears 77 and 78 in vertically spaced parallel relation to the shaft 79,as best illustrated in Figure 7.

A pair of ears 82 and 83 are secured to the channel 55 and dependtherefrom -n spaced parallel relation carrying a shaft '84-in'transversely extending position therein. A pulley 85 is journalledon the shaft 84, as best illustrated in Figure 7. The cable 52 from thedrum 45 extends under the pulley 80 upwardly between the channel members53 and 54 and over the pulley 85.

The cable 52 then extends downwardly to a hook 86 secured to itsterminal end and engaged over the coupling pin 81, as illustrated inFigure 7.

Each of the upright channel members 13, 14, 53 and 54 are provided witha stop pin 87 which are adapted to engage the upper ends of the guidebars 28, 29, 71 and '72, respe-ctively, to `act as a stop to limit theupward movement thereof in the channels 13, 14, 53 and 54.

In the use and operation of the invention, the cable 52 is disconnectedfrom the trailer unit 12, and the winch unit 13 is positioned so thatthe plate 31 extends under an object 88 to be lifted and transported.The forks 24 and 25 are brought into engagement with one side of theobject 88, as best illustrated in Figure 5. The cable 52 is extendedunder the load and the trailer unit 12 is positioned with its supportplate 74 under the opposite side of the object 88 and with its forks 67and 68 in engagement with the opposite side of the object 88. The cable52 is then trained over the pulley 80 and around the pulley 85 with thehook 86 engaged about the coupling pin 81. The drum 45 is then rotatingwinding the cable 52 thereon.

The rst movement of the cable 52 onto the drum 45 will cause the forks24, 25, 67 and 68 to grasp the sides of the object 88 tightly. Furtherwinding of the cable 52 on the drum 45 will cause the support plates 31and 74 to move upwardly with relation to the units 11 and 12 so that theobject 88 is lifted clear of the supporting surface and is supported bythe caster wheels 22, 23, 65 and 66. The object 88 can then betransported as desired.

To unload the object 88 from the lifting mechanism 10, the procedurenoted above is reversed, thus disconnecting the units 11 and 12 from theobject 88.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, itshould be understood that numerous other structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A load lifting and transporting mechanism comprising an uprightframe, a pair of Wheels supporting said frame, a support mounted forreciprocation on said frame and adapted to engage one side of a load, asecond upright frame, a pair of wheels supporting said second frame, asupport mounted for reciprocation on said second frame and adapted toengage the other side of a load, a pulley journalled on the lower end ofeach of said supports, a flexible cable trained under said pulleys andextending under said load, means securing one end of said cable to saidfirst named frame, and a winch mounted on said second named frame withthe other end of said cable wound thereon.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cable when wound on saidwinch biases said supports into clamping engagement with said load.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frames are horizontallyadjustably connected by said cable.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 826,877Pavey July 24, 1906 1,473,894 Weatherby Nov. 13, 1923 1,958,026 WalkerMay 8, 1934 2,551,097 Cole May 1, 1951

